Bag closing machine



July 1, 1958 L. H. PLATT ETAL 2,840,967

BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1954 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 69 e4 .66 J74I \\w I 5 LELAND .EI. pL/177; LELAND H LATT, r72.

ITO/4N D. PLATT NVENTOEsK BY (0)142 ATTORNE).

July 1, 1958 L. H. PLATT EIAL 0, 7

BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed March 19 1954. 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 LELAND .H.PLATZ; LELAND M .PLA TI, :72.

JOHN D. PLAN;

JNVENTORS.

ATTOENE).

2,840,967 Patented July 1, 1958 ice BAG crosnso MACEHNE Leland H. Platt,Leland H. Flatt, Jr., and John D. Flatt, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 19, 1954, Serial No. 417,382;

23 Claims. (Ci. 53-198) This invention has to do with improvements inapparatus for gathering and closing the neck portions of flexible bags,particularly those made of thin transparent resinous or other plasticmaterials which have come into increasing popularity for the packagingof many commodities. While applicable to the closing of bags having various sizes, shapes and uses, the invention has developed as a solutionto the problem of machine closing at high speeds these transparentplastic bags containing foodstuffs such as washed and topped carrots,and accordingly the invention will be described with reference to thattypical adaptation.

in the course of their preparation for the market, the carrots arewashed, topped and placed in initially flat plastic bags, thepermeability and other characteristics of which tend toward extendedkeeping of the carrots in good condition. The bags ordinarily are handfilled to a depth (variable in accordance with the lengths of thecarrots) spaced some distance from the open mouths of the bags.Heretofore the practice has been to close the bags by such expedients asheat sealing and hand gathering and tying or taping. Being essentiallyhand operations, their accomplishment has been relatively slow and hasrequired a considerable number of workers confined to this particularjob in packing houses having any sizeable output.

Our broad objective is to provide for machine closing of the bags by theuse of essentially simple and low cost equipment having the capacity athigh speed to gather together the initially distended (open) neckportions of the bags, and to then secure the necks in closed condition.This we have achieved in the hereinafter described machine which, by wayof comparison, may have a capacity forclosing around one hundredtwenty-five bags per minute, as compared with a rate of about fifteenper minute per Worker using essentially hand closing methods.

The invention is predicated upon the general concepts of providing (1) apair of surfaces positioned to receive between them the forward sideedges of an advancing succession of the filled bags, (2) moving thesesurfaces, as by wringer roll action, so that they tend to advance thebag material positively and at high speed, (3) temporarily blocking thematerial being advanced and thereby causing it to become gathered, (4)effecting a retained closed condition of the gathered bag neck, and (5)bodily displacing the gathering surfaces so as to free the closed bag.While the particularities ofthe mechanisms so operating to close thebags may vary or be made to vary in accordance with the skills of theart, We have devised a form and combination which performs effectivelyand may be used for purposes of describing the invention, as anillustration and typical embodiment.

Generally considered, the principal components of the combinationcomprise a pair of opposed and engaging surface gathering wheels whichreceive between them the forward side edges of the advancing bags, theWheels 1'0- tating in opposite directions and atleast one of the wheelsbeing driven so that they tend to rotate in opposite directions and thuspositively feed and advance the bag material to the gathering location.The bag material is prevented temporarily from passing free beyond thewheels by what may be termed a blocking means, the principal purposes ofwhich are to arrest advancement of the bag material until its neckportion is completely gathered by the material being crowded against theblocking means and to retain the gathered form of the material while itis being acted on by a retaining means, preferably, though typically, adevice for placing and securing pressure sensitive tape about the bagneck. Freeing of the closed bag is accomplished by bodily displacement,and specifically oscillation, of the gathering wheels in the generaldirection of the bag advancement.

In the interests of confining this combination of components to acompact arrangement, and one which because of its compactness permits ofthe high speeds achieved, the gathering wheels are arranged in opposedpairs with the wheels in each pair spaced apart. Using this arrangementof the wheels, the blocking means actuated or controlled extraneously,may be located between the pairs in direct proximity to the dischargesides of the wheels, and individual tapes may be fed convergently to alocation in direct proximity to the gathering means, so that at onestation, the bag neck may be brought very rapidly into gatheredcondition and then closed by the tapes being brought together about theneck. And this same arrangement conveniently accommodates anintermittently operated knife which severs the tapes instantly upontheir application to the bag.

The invention further contemplates the provision of safety means forpreventing fouling of the closing assembly in instances where a bag isoverfilled, e. g. contains one or more unusually long carrots, to anextent that the bag contents would enter between the gathering surfacesor wheels. As will appear, this object may be accomplished by providingin the path of the bags approaching the gathering surfaces, a devicewhich is responsive to an overfilled condition of the bag, to stop thegathering wheels until the offending bag is removed.

While additional features and particular objects might be recited atlength, the invention will now be understood to best advantage byproceeding with a detailed description of the typical embodimentillustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a general plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the bag feeding and closingmechanism taken in the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary enlarged sections illustrative of thebag gathering, tape applying and cut-oft functions of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a view illustrating diagrammatically the oscillating travel ofthe gathering wheel, tape applying and cut-off mechanisms;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 11 shows the form of a bag closed by the machine.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the machine assembly has a framestructure including a horizontal conveyor chain support and guide plate10 formed as shown in Fig. 4 to present a pair of parallel channels 10a,carried by such other parts of the frame structure as the legs 11, 12and 13. Traveling within the channels 10a is a pair of endless conveyorchains 14 suitably driven as by the diagrammatically indicated sprockets15 which in turn are driven by the motor 16. The support 10 may have anupturned flange or guard 116, at the inside of which the bags 1! to beclosed are placed side-by-side as in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 foradvancement on the conveyor chains 14 to the closing mechanism generallyindicated at 18. As will be understood, when placed upon the conveyorsthe bags have their open ends fully distended and projecting beyond theleft-hand side of the conveyor as viewed in Fig. 4. And the bags will befilled to a portion of their length or depth, as for example toapproximately the extent represented by the bulged portion of the bag inFig. 4.

At this point it may be mentioned that whereas for convenience andsimplicity of illustration, the entire machine assembly has been shownto be arranged or mounted in a position such that the support islaterally horizontal, it may be desirable to mount the assembly shown inFig. 4 in a manner such that the support inclines downwardly andoutwardly toward the guard 116, thus tending to cause the bag contentsto settle as the bags are advanced toward the closing mechanism 18. Whenso inclined, the

machine may include a conveyor chain (shown only in Fig. 4) which willsupport the bottoms of the bags above the guard 116.

Anticipating that'at times an individual bag may be overfilled to anextent such that its contents might enter between and interfere withproper functioning of the later described gathering wheels, we haveprovided a selectively responsive safety device, generally indicated at19 in Figs. 2 and 3, which operates to discontinue the bag feed to themechanism 13, in response to the overfilled condition of any individualbag. The device 19 comprises an offset endless chain 20 carried onsprockets 21 and 22, which serves simply to give bottom support for theneck portions of the advancing bags as they move beneath an arm 23pivotally mounted at 24 on a suitable support 25, the arm having gravityrepose over the chain 26 at a clearance therefrom determined by thesetting of screw 26. Positioned directly above the arm 23 is a switch 27in the circuit of the motor 16, and which has onand-oif actuation by anarm 28 directly overlying and engageable by the aforementioned arm 23.Normally, the neck portions of properly filled bags will pass betweenthe top rung of chain 20 and arm 23 without displacing the latter, atleast sufficiently to actuate the switch 27. However, an overfilled bagentering between the chain and arm will displace the latter togetherwith arm 28, upwardly sufficiently to actuate the switch 27 and stop theoperation of motor 16. Upon removing the offending bag, the levers,switch and motor restore to normal operating positions and conditions.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, the bag closing mechanism18 is shownto comprise a drive mechanism, the form and details of whichare subject to wide variation, but which typically may include anoscillating bearing sleeve 30 carried by a shaft 31 which in turn isjournaled within bearings 32 secured to the horizontal frame pieces 33.Arm 34 fixed to the sleeve 30 carries at its upper end a sleeve 35within which is journaled a shaft 36 carrying on one end a sprocket 37driven by chain 38 passing over a sprocket 39 rotatable on the shaft 31.Chain 38 passes over an idler sprocket 40 near guide roller 41 carriedby the oscillating arm 34. The prime mover comprises an electric motor42 which drives sprocket 43 carrying a chain 44 extending about sprocket45 carried by cam shaft 46 journaled in bearings 47 mounted to theup-rights 12. Shaft 46 carries a second sprocket 48 which through chain49 and sprocket 50 drives the shaft 31.

The parts just described may be enclosed within a sheet metal housing51, the side of which adjacent the conveyors 14 may be open, as shown inFig. 4.

Bearing sleeve 35 carried on the upper end of the oscillating arm 34carries a yoke structure which mounts the gathering wheels 52 and 53,this yoke structure comprising an upwardly extending U-shaped support 54fixed to the sleeve 35 and carrying an outwardly extending member 55having a right-angie end extent 56 in which is supported one end of ashaft 57, the opposite end of the shaft being fixed to the upper leg ofthe support 54. Wheels 52 are free running on the shaft 57, and wheels53 keyed to the shaft 36, are rotatably driven thereby. As illustratedin Fig. 10, wheels 52 are axially spaced apart and have peripheralannular projections 58, and wheels 53 are correspondingly spaced andhave peripheral annular grooves 59 receiving the projections 58.Normally the wheel pairs 52 and 53 are peripherally interengaged, butare spreadable by reason of some flexibility in the yoke 54,sutficientiy to permit the bag necks to pass between them. Spreading ofthe yoke arms is resisted by a coil spring 69 carried by bolt 61extending through openings in the yoke, resistance to spreading of theyoke arms being variable by adjustment of nuts 62.

i fhile passing between the wheels, the bag necks are guided andreceived between a pair of members 63 and 64, the former beingstationarily and horizontally positinned, and member 64 being in theform of a lever pivoted to the frame at 65 and connected to coil spring66 which resists upward displacement of the free end of the lever whichis received between the wheels 52. As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 themembers 63 and 64 (together with the wheels) form a convergent throat at65 for reception of the bag necks within a clearance space at 66 at bothouter sides of which the gathering wheels are in peripheral engagement.Forwardly of space 66 in the direction of bag travel, members 63 and 64come against the later described tapes 67 and in so doing present at 68a barrier at which the bag material is arrested while being completelygathered, and beyond which the gathered bag neck will not pass until theparts are displaced, as later described, to the Fig. 7 position.

Members 63 and 64 contain a pair of guide openings 69 through which thetapes are fed to the positions shown in Figs. 6 to 8, from a pair ofreels 70 and 71. Either or both of these tapes may be pressuresensitive, having on their inner faces an adhesive which will causeadherence of the tape ends at opposite sides of the gathered neck 17a ofthe bag when the tapes are pinched together between the ends of thepressurizing members. As will be understood, these tapes will ordinarilybe made of paper, plastic or other cellulosic material, low in cost andof sutficient strength to permanently hold the bag closed.

Positioned at the end of the upper pressure member 64 is. a verticallyreciprocable cut-oft" knife 72 carried on the end of an arm 73, see Fig.2, pivoted to the frame at 74. This arm has an actuating link connection75 with solenoid 76 which is in the electric circuit of a switchgenerally indicated at 77 in Fig. 4, which underlies the conveyorsupport 10. The assembly 77 comprises a depending bracket 78 carrying aswitch 79 actuable by arm E extending upwardly through an opening insupport 10 so as to be engagea'ble by each bag 17 as it passes over anddepresses the arm. Downward displacement of arm '73 in response toactuation of solenoid 76 is resisted by coil spring 81 attached to theframe.

Shaft 46 carries a cam 82 which engages against roller 41 and oscillatesthe arm 34 in response to constant speed rotation of the shaft 46. Theshaft also carries a pair of actuators 33, olfset angularly from themaximum radii of the cams to engage in timed relation with oscillationof the arm 34 a micro-switch 84, see Fig. 5, in the circuit of switch 79and solenoid 76.

To cite typical examples of certain dimensional and velocity conditionsof significance in the operation of the machine: The wheels 52 and 53each may have a diameter of 4 inches with the driven wheels 53 rotatingat a speed of about 470 R. P. M. The driven wheels thus rotate at afairly high speed and the wheels 52 rotate at about the same speed byvirtue of their contact with the bags at such time as the latter arebetween the wheels during the closing operation. At the wheel interfacesbetween which the bags pass, the wheels have a throw on the arm 34 aboutthe center of shaft 31 of about 1% inches, and the arm oscillates at afrequency of about 172 per minute.

amass? The conveyor 14 advances the bags to the wheels at a rate ofabout 50 feet per minute.

In considering the operation of the machine, assume the bags 17 to beplaced in the previously described condition, upon the conveyor chains14 and to be advancing toward the closure mechanism 18 as indicated inFigs. 1 and 4. Upon entering the throat at 65, see Fig. 6, to the pointof engagement with theconverging surfaces of the wheels 52 and 53, theleading edge of the bag is engaged between the irregular peripheralsurfaces of the wheel with a grab-like suddenness, and the entire widthof the bag neck is advanced with quick suddenness against the temporaryblock presented by the inwardly projecting end portions of the members63 and 64.

During the time that the bag neck is thus being gathered, cam 82 actingagainst arm 34 bodily moves the wheels 52 and 53 forwardly to the Fig. 7position (Fig. 9 illustrates the oscillatory travel of the wheels), inwhich the upper pressure member 64 is displaced against the resistanceof spring 66 sufficiently to pass the gathered neck, while continuinghowever to exert a pinching pressure against the tape. Retractivemovement of the wheels returns the parts to the Fig. 8 position in whichthe pressure members come together behind the advancing bag neck withpressures sufiicient to form a tape seal at that point. The oscillatorythrow of the wheels is so predetermined that the pressure members willpinch together a length of the tapes which is the same as the initiallyadhered tapes at the opposite or forward side of the neck. One of thearms 83 then engages the switch 84, see Fig. 5, to actuate the solenoid76 and knife 72 to sever the tapes. The wheel assembly then continuesits refractive movement in returning to the Fig. '6 position, from whichthe described cycle is repeated.

The function of switch 79, in circuit with the solenoid 76 and switch84, is to prevent idle operation of the knife 72 when the machine is inoperation without bags passing through the gathering wheels. At suchtime as the switch lever 80 is in raised position, the electricalcircuit containing the solenoid 76 and switch 84 is open and the'cutter72 will not be operated. However, as switch 79 is closed upon depressionof the lever 80 by an overriding bag 17, the circuit is closed and theknife operates to sever-the tapes in accordance with the previouslydescribed. cycle.

It is pertinent to observe that the capacity of the mechanism of Figs. 6to 8 to rapidly close a succession of bags being fed through, is notdependent upon any predetermined spacing of the bags, or any spacing atall between them. In fact, the bags may overlap and yet be closedindividually and in the manner previously described. The

rapidity of the bag neck gathering and tape applying operation issufficiently great to permit of the final closing operation upon one bagwhile a succeeding and overlapping bag is entering between the gatheringwheels. The

only requirement for independent gathering and closing of the two bags,is that the first be expelled from between the pressure members 63 and64, and that the latter be returned to say their Fig. 8 positionssufficiently soon to block the on-coming bag edge. In thisconnection itmay be mentioned that a succeeding and perhaps overlapping bag may enterbetween the gathering wheels during the return swing, i. e. at anintermediate point in the return oscillation stroke as depicted by Fig.9, and finally become properly gathered and closed, so long as theoscillatory travel of the wheels will have acted to dispel thepreviously closed bag and permit restoration of the pressure members 63and 64 to their obstructing engagement against the tapes.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for gathering and closing the neck portion of an initiallydistended and therefore open flexible bag,

comprising bag advancing means forming a pair of op-' posed surfacesadapted to receive between them a side edge portion of the bag, drivemeans for moving one of said surfaces in a direction tending to advancethe bag 75 6 material betweensaid surfaces, blocking means actingtemporarily to block such advancement of the forward portion of the bagmaterial being advanced so that the material is gathered back of theblocking means to a transversely reduced neck portion of the bagsecurable then in closed condition, and means in addition to said drivemeans for then producing relative movement of said advancing means andsaid blocking means in a direction causing said advancing means to movebodily relative to the blocking means in the direction of advancement ofthe bag while the advancing means are in engagement with a gathered bagneck to thereby advance said neck relative to the blocking means andthus free the neck.

2. Apparatus for gathering and closing the neck portion of an initiallydistended and therefore open flexible bag, comprising bag advancingmeans forming a pair of opposed surfaces in essentially circular form,both of said surfaces being rotatable and being adapted to receivebetween them a side edge portion of the bag, means for moving one ofsaid surfaces in a direction tending to advance the bag between saidsurfaces, blocking means movable laterally of the path of advancement ofthe bag and acting temporarily to block such advancement of the forwardportion of the bag material being advanced so that the material isgathered back of the blocking means to a transversely reduced neckportion of the bag then securable in closed condition, and means inaddition to said drive means for producing bodily relative movementbetween said advancing means and said blocking means ina directioncausing said advancing means to move bodily relative to the blockingmeans in the direction of advancement of the bag while the advancingmeans are in engagement with a'gathered bag neck to thereby advance saidneck relative to the blocking means and thus free the neck.

3. Apparatus for gathering and closing the neck portion of an initiallydistended and therefore open flexible bag, comprising bag advancingmeans forming a pair of opposed surfaces adapted to receive between thema side edge portion of the bag, drive means for moving one of saidsurfaces at high speed and in a direction tending to advance the bagbetween said surfaces, relatively movable blocking members receivingbetween them the advancing bag material and acting temporarily to blocksuch advancement of the forward portion of the bag material beingadvanced so that the material is gathered back of the blocking means toa transversely reduced neck portion of the bag then securable in closedcondition, and means in addition to said drive means for bodily movingsaid advancing means in said advancing direction while in engagementwith a gathered bag neck to thereby free said neck from between saidblocking members.

4. Apparatus for gathering and closing the neck portion of an initiallydistended and therefore open flexible bag, comprising bag advancingmeans forming a pair of opposed surfaces having an interfittingprojection and recess and adapted to receive between them a side edgeportion of the bag, drive means for moving one of said surfaces in adirection tending to advance the bag between said surfaces, blockingmeans acting temporarily to block such advancement of the forwardportion of the bag material being advanced so that the material isgathered back of the blocking means to a transversely reduced neckportion of the bag then securable in closed condition, and means inaddition to said drive means for producing bodily relative movementbetween said advancing means and said blocking means in a directioncausing said advancing means to move bodily relative to the blockingmeans in the direction of advancement of the bag while the advancingmeans are in engagement with a gathered bag neck to thereby advance saidneck relative to the blocking means and thus free the neck.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising also tape supportingmeans from which adhesive tape is fed to secure the gathered neckportion of the bag.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including also means formechanically feeding. a succession of bags.- between said bag advancingmeans surfaces.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including also feed means formechanically feeding a succession of bags between said advancing meanssurfaces, and means operable in response to the overtilled condition ofany individual bag approaching said surfaces for stopping movement ofsaid feed means.

8. Apparatus for gathering and closing the neck portion of an initiallydistended and therefore open flexible bag, comprising bag advancingmeans forming circular surfaces adapted to receive between them a sideedge portion of the bag, drive means for moving one of said surfacesin-a direction tending to advance the bag between said surfaces, movableblocking means at one side of said surfaces and acting temporarily toblock advance ment of the forward portion of the bag material beingadvanced so that the material is gathered back of the blocking means toa transversely reduced neck portion of the bag then securable in closedcondition, and means in addition to said drive means for bodilyoscillating said bag advancing means to move alternately in saidadvancing direction and an essentially opposite returning directionwhile said one of the circular surfaces turns, said bodily movement inthe advancing direction occurring while the bag neck is engaged by saidadvancing means so that said bodily movement correspondingly moves saidneck relative to the blocking means in advancing direction and thusfrees the neck.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said surfaces include twoopposed pairs of wheels, and said blocking means is positioned betweenthe peripheral surfaces of both pairs.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, comprising means for supporting aroll of pressure sensitive tape from which the tape is fed to a locationat which it is applied to the gathered neck of the bag, and means forsevering the tape after it is applied to the bag.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, in which said blocking meanscomprises a pair of relatively movable members, and yielding meansurging one of said members toward the other.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said blocking meanscomprises means for guiding and applying pressure sensitive tape aboutthe gathered neck of the bag.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, in which said blocking meanscomprises a pair of relatively movable members receiving between themthe advancing bag material, said members including means for guidingbetween the surfaces of said pairs elongated tapes one at least of whichis pressure sensitive, and including also means for applying the tapesabout the bag neck and pressing together end portions of the tapes, andadditional means for then severing the applied tapes from the feed tape.

14. Appa tus for gathering and closing the neck portion of an initiallydistended and therefore open flexible bag, compri ing bag advancingmeans forming two opposed pairs of spaced surfaces adapted to receivebetween them a side edge portion of the bag, means for moving one ofsaid pairs of surfaces in a direction tending to advance the bag betweensaid surface pairs, movable blocking means between the surfaces of bothpairs acting temporarily to block such advancement of the forwardportion of the bag materia being gathered, securing means operating intimed relation with said blocking means for securing the bag neck inclosed condition, and means for oscillating said advancing means in saidadvancing direction and in relation to said blocking means to free theclosed bag, said blocking means comprising a pair of relatively movablemembers extending between the surfaces of said pairs and yielding meansresisting movement of one of said members away from the other, saidmembers comprising means for directing between their surfaces a pair ofelongated tapes one atleast of whichis pressure-sensitive andthe membersbeing operable to press together'end portions of the tapes about thebag: neck, and means for then severing the applied tapes from the feedtape.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, including also feed means formechanically feeding a succession of bags between. said bag advancingmeans surfaces.

16. Apparatus for fastening closed the gathered neck of a flexiblebagcomprising a pair of pressure members movable relatively toward andaway from each other and forming a restriction through which thegathered neck of said bag is advanced, means for feeding two tapes atleast one of which is pressure sensitive between said pressure membersat opposite sides of said bag neck, means yieldingly urging said membersrelatively toward one another and againstisaid tapes as the tapes andneck advance between the members to thereby fasten the neck inclosedcondition by means of the tapes, and means for cutting offtheportions of said tapes which are fastened to a bag neck aftermovement of those tape portions and the neck between said members, saidmembers having aligned transverse surfaces beyond said restriction, andsaid cutter means comprising a cutter movable along said transversesurfaces and across the tape path.

17. Apparatus for fastening closed the gathered neck of a flexible bagcomprising a pair of pressure members movable relatively toward and awayfrom each other and forming a restriction through which the gatheredneck of said bag is advanced, means for feeding two tapes at least oneof which is pressure sensitive between said pressure members at oppositesides of said bag neck, means yieldingly urging said members relativelytoward one another and against said tapes as the tapes and neck ad vancebetween the members to thereby fasten the neck in closed condition bymeans of the tapes, said members containing guide slots through whichsaid tapes pass to inner sides of the members to then advance alongthose inner sides and between the members.

18. Apparatus for fastening closed the gathered neck of a flexible bagcomprising a pair of pressure members movable relatively toward and awayfrom each other and forming a restriction through which the gatheredneck of said bag is advanced, means for feeding two tapes at least oneof which is pressure sensitive between said pressure members at oppositesides of said bag neck, means yieldingly urging said members relativelytoward one another and against said tapes as the tapes and neck advancebetween the members to thereby fasten the neck in closed condition bymeans of the tapes, means stationarily mounting one of said members, andmeans mounting the other member for swinging movement to ward and awayfrom the first, said means urging the members relatively togethercomprising a spring yieldingly urging said other member toward said onemember, said members having first converging portions forming anentrance throat, and having essentially parallel portions beyond thethroat for pressing the tapes against the bag neck.

19. Apparatus as recited in claim 18, in which said members containslots for passing said tapes to inner sides of the members, saidapparatus including a cutter element beyond said parallel portions ofthe members for cutting off the tapes.

20. Apparatus for fastening closed the gathered neck of a flexible bagcomprising a pair of pressure members movable relatively toward and awayfrom each other and forming a restriction through which the gatheredneck of said bag is advanced, means for feeding two tapes at least oneof which is pressure sensitive between said pressure members at oppositesides of said bag neck, means yieldingly urging said members relativelytoward one another and against said tapes as the tapes and neck ad-Vance between the members to thereby fasten the neck 9 10 in closedcondition by means of the tapes, and means for for cutting off saidtapes after passage between said advancing said bag neck between saidmembers. members, and means for actuating said cutter in accord- 21.Apparatus as recited in claim 20, in which said ance with advancement ofthe bag neck between said two pressure members form together a taperingthroat members. for directing the neck therebetween. 5

22. Apparatus as recited in claim 20, includiiilg means References Citedin the file of this patent for cutting off the portions of said tapes wich are fastened to a bag neck after movement of those tape UNITEDSTATES PATENTS portions and the neck between said members. 1,551,525Hamer Aug. 25, 1925 23. Apparatus as recited in claim 20, including acutter 10 2,578,799 Gray Dec. 18, 1951

